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Script Formatting Guide

This document provides a cheat sheet for script formatting with headings for title page, scene headings, characters, dialogue, parentheticals, sound cues, transitions, and software recommendations. Key details include capitalizing character names when speaking and starting dialogue at a consistent margin, using (V.O.) and (O.S.) parentheticals, capitalizing sounds and sources, and including common transitions like CUT TO and FADE OUT.

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602 views12 pages

Script Formatting Guide

This document provides a cheat sheet for script formatting with headings for title page, scene headings, characters, dialogue, parentheticals, sound cues, transitions, and software recommendations. Key details include capitalizing character names when speaking and starting dialogue at a consistent margin, using (V.O.) and (O.S.) parentheticals, capitalizing sounds and sources, and including common transitions like CUT TO and FADE OUT.

Uploaded by

anon_438701543
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SCRIPT FORMAT

CHEAT SHEET
TITLE PAGE

SCRIPT TITLE

written by
Matthew Harris
CONTACT & DATE

12345 Anystreet Rd. FIRST DRAFT


City, ST/PROV POSTAL
(555) 555-5555 September 16, 2009
SCENE HEADINGS
Interior or Exterior?

EXT. HOTEL – ENTRANCE – DAY

INT. HOTEL – LOBBY – DAY

Order from general to specific.


CHARACTERS
Introducing a character

MATTHEW HARRIS walks into the hotel


lobby.

Afterwards

Matthew approaches the front desk.


DIALOGUE
MATTHEW HARRIS
A character’s name should
always be capitalized when
speaking.

Margins
• Not centered.
• Character Name starts at 4.1”
• Always begins at same point.
PARENTHETICALS
MATTHEW HARRIS
(flips to next slide)
Words of direction contained in
parentheses within dialogue.

When to use?

• How a line is spoken


• What the character is doing while speaking
V.O. & O.S.
MATTHEW HARRIS (V.O.)

• O.S. or Offscreen
– when a character is physically
present in a scene, but outside
the view of the camera
• V.O. or Voice Over
– all other instances (i.e. Phone,
TV, Speaker, Radio, Narrator,
etc.)
SOUND CUES
Capitalize the SOUND, and SOURCE
of sound.

MUSIC plays on the SOUND SYSTEM.


TRANSITIONS
FADE IN:

INT. BAR – NIGHT

CUT TO:

EXT. STREET – NIGHT

FADE OUT.
OTHER
• Single Camera Format
– Other formats:
• Sitcom/Multi-Camera
• Stage Play

• Spelling and Grammar


• Page Numbers
• Copyright
• Registration
SOFTWARE
• FINAL DRAFT ($249)
www.finaldraft.com

• MOVIE MAGIC SCREENWRITER($249)


www.screenplay.com

• CELTX(FREE!)
www.celtx.com

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